Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas laid to rest

Hundreds of people gathered for the church funeral in Easley and along the 11-mile route to the cemetery in Dacusville where 30-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley was buried Sunday. He leaves behind a wife and 2-year-old son.

Members of the South Carolina National Guard lift a casket containing the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley before driving Sunday afternoon to Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville for a graveside ceremony.

Anderson Independent Mail

Members of the South Carolina National Guard console each other Sunday after a funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley. Thomas was later buried at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Beverly Holden of Easley holds her chest while Sabrina Alexander of Pickens wipes tears, as the hearse carrying Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley, drives to Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville for burial.

Anderson Independent Mail

A sign displays the triple-digit heat that mourners faced Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley before Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas was buried.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Flags honoring Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley were on display Sunday at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley before his funeral. Thomas was killed in a suicide bomb attack June 20 in Afghanistan.

Anderson Independent Mail

The life of Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley was celebrated during a largely silent ceremony Sunday at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley.

Anderson Independent Mail

A member of the South Carolina National Guard sits near the exit doors during a funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

People carry flags along the sidewalk Sunday in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas before the soldier's funeral at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint shakes hands Sunday with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Bill Quinton, state commander for veterans service corps of South Carolina, salutes while the body of Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas is carried out of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley after a funeral.

Anderson Independent Mail

Bill Quinton, state commander for veterans service corps of South Carolina, salutes while the body of Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas is carried out of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley after a funeral.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Members of the South Carolina National Guard leave Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley for a graveside service at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Members of the South Carolina National Guard hug each other Sunday after a funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas at Rock Springs Baptist Church in Easley. Thomas was later buried at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Ribbons and flags were on display Sunday through the 11-mile ride to Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville that took Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas to his final resting place.

Members of the South Carolina National Guard carry Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas' casket by horse and carriage Sunday from the Dacusville School along S.C. 186 to Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

A sign on Sunday honors Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas on S.C. 186 in Dacusville near the Nine Forks Baptist Church cemetery where he was buried.

Anderson Independent Mail

Men pause to honor fallen soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley, as his body was carried Sunday along S.C. 186 to its final resting place.

Anderson Independent Mail

South Carolina National Guardsmen two soldiers on horseback pull a caisson that carried Thomas' coffin with Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley, along S.C. Highway 186, by people showing flags of the United States before turning into Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Margaret Smith of Pickens holds a flag Sunday while she listens during a graveside ceremony honoring Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

A man salutes as S.C. National Guardsmen carry a casket of Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Members of the South Carolina National Guard on Sunday salute the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Chaplain (Col.) Steve Shugart of the South Carolina National Guard, pauses before giving a prayer, at the gravesite for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley, at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Col. Steve Shugart, a chaplain with the South Carolina National Guard, pauses Sunday before giving a prayer at the Dacusville grave site for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

A funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas, 30, of Easley took place Sunday afternoon at Rock Springs Baptist Church. He was buried at Nine Forks Baptist in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

An image of Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas of Easley was displayed near Sunday his grave site at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.

Anderson Independent Mail

Col. Steve Shugart, a chaplain with the South Carolina National Guard, pauses Sunday before giving a prayer at the Dacusville grave site for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas.

Anderson Independent Mail

An honor guardsman with the South Carolina National Guard pauses Sunday before giving a prayer at the grave site for Sgt. 1st Class Brad Thomas at Nine Forks Baptist Church in Dacusville.